New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-05
SOME or HERMANN'S TRICKS.
THE STORY OF A GAscoS.

4
In an uptown managers Office the other day little
group OF theatrical talking about the Inter
state Commerce bill and other cheerful subjects. when
tall thin, swarthy mal with dark curling
mustache and imperial, entered. He was received
| with a shout OF welcome :" Now for some entertain
ment" said one OF those present and in very few
minutes the prophecy fulhlled. The newcomer
was Hermann, magician who contrives to make
things generally lively wherever he may happen to
find himself. After replying good-humoredly to q
torrent Of questions about his recent Brooklyn adven-
| ture--he was led TO police station and narrowly
escaped spending the night in a lookup Tor playing
practical joke the occupants OF a streecar-he said
Flench-English: 1t great fun, boys, though
have not yet stri,tly true account OF 1t. 1t
made itself thus: find myself in street-car with
two or three worthy people who look as though they
were too sleepy and need waking up. l wake them
Instead of thanking me, they accuse me to police
man of picking their pockets. The policeman takes
me to the station house with my sleepy friends. The
sergeant there takes the charge down and asks me Tor
what you call my pedigree. give it to him and am
about to be sent 10 dungeon, when with all the
poeness at my command say VIII the Monsieurs
not search their pockets and see il they have been
truly robbed They do The one who has lost
watch finds the pocketboOk OF the other in his tail
pocket. The poeketbook man hIds gold watch In
his trouser pocket. while n diamond pin which the
third has lost is neatly pinned III the lapel OF the
worthy policeman. Once more speaking politely
saw Hold on, too have something lost, and taking
lining q roll of greenbacks. They say no word and |,
bowling politely once more. leave the station house."
For the next ten minutes Hermann turned the
gathering into private seance and exhibited In rapid
succession some really astonishing sleight OF hand
tricks One of the party rolling a cigarette.
- Give me n cigarette paper" said Hermann The
little book OF cigarette papers was handed to him;
he took ono out and began deliberately tearing the
clip of tissue paper into eight or ten small pieces
These he folded together once or twice and then
passed them TO one of the party. Roll 1t tight said
he between your finger and thumb" The request
was comp led with. and little ball OF paper the size
of a pea the result of the process. Unrou that.
said Hermann bur mind you do not drop the pieces
on the noor.' The little ball was carefully unroued
and found to DO WHOLE uniform piece OF paper OF tho
exact size and make OF that taken from the book and
torn up By the coniurer AZ the subject gazed blanky
NJ this astonishing Transformation, Hermann took 1t
from him and folded II in two moro, and giving
It him back told him again to roll il into small ball
This was DONE and when II again untolded,
half dozen scraps OF torn paper were all that re-
manned. lie took n tobacco pouch from the smoker
an with q quick upward movement threw it into the
air Ii was gOne completely vanished. and 1t need
hardly be said was found in tho breast pocket OF
innocent cnlooker. This Is Of Hermanns ceverest
deeeptions and OF those present said he had ire
quenily seen him perform it with a wineglass hall
full OF wine. lie took the same tobacco pouch aud
letting II res in the palm OF his hand held his hand
we'll out rom hs body iIe then closed his white
fingers upon IT, opened his hand again, and the pouch
managers desk.
Coins changed from silver to gold diamond
ring mystorou.y changed from the finger OF one hand
TO the finger OF the other without apparent move
msnt and all these startling little tricks depending,
OF course, upon pure seight OF hand. were accom-
pa MED ty an amusing chatter which served tho double
purpose OF entertaining his rieuds aud attracting their
attention ut critical moments. Among the many
stories he told was which seemed to one OF his
hearers 10 possess certain novelty. Some one bad
said when the name a well-kuown provaricaor was
introduced that he thought he really believed many OF
his lies himself :" knew onco.' said Hermann, o
business man In Msrseles who was accustomed TO
dine evory day little restaurant near the harbor
One day &c went his dinnor and found every place
occupied. He was in hurry, aud being a iaseon
his fertile imag lnation hit expediont. lie
slipped out OF tho restaurant and rushing in at the
front door called out, There IA an enormous whale
Ia the harbor and 1t Is likely TO do harm TO the ship
ping Tho excitement 10 terrible. Every one jumped
TO his feet and In lew seconds the place was deserted
Even the Walters left their tables The willy Gascon
q. he watched them going hdgeted about bit and
then exclaming i should not wonder If 1t were true,
must 90 and IL myself, rushed oil to LOOK at the
r.,,l lie he had invented himself